Father and son convicted in Žlobin over post-election protest
Screenshot from a video showing people protesting in Žlobin after the August 9, 2020 election
The Žlobin City and District Court convicted today 42-year-old political prisoner Siarhei Piarfiliyeu and his son Stanislau, finding them guilty under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code. Siarhei Piarfiliyeu was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and Stanislau Piarfiliyeu to two years of restricted freedom (home confinement).
According to the case file, in August 2020, the accused attended illegal protests, following “public calls for destructive activities posted on various Internet resources.” They “shouted slogans and moved on the road, which led to a change of bus routes, the closure of a 24-hour shop.”
The court refused to look into Siarhei Piarfiliyeu’s report of violence used by police officers during arrest. According to the prisoner, he was beaten and suffered a head injury.
The convicts intend to appeal the verdicts.
Siarhei Piarfiliyeu used to own a hardware store, which had to close after on October 26 the business joined a nationwide strike and the city authorities forced the property owner to terminate the lease.
